Flattened Rice (Aval / Poha)

About Flattened Rice

Flattened Rice is also known as Pressed Rice or Beaten Rice and originated in India. It is also common in Nepal and Bangladesh. These days it is also found in western countries sold in the form of cereals. Here the dehusked rice is parboiled, flattened into thin dry flakes and then dried. It is available in markets as thin ones and thicker varieties, depending on the pressure applied while flattening it. Based on the type of dish prepared, the thick or thin variety is used. The thick one withstands soaking and is used to prepare most savory dishes. The thin variety gets mushy on soaking and hence used in dishes where is is roasted diretly without soaking. It is known as Poha or Pauwa in Hindi, Aval in Tamil and Malayalam, Paunvaa in Gujarathi, Chuda in Oriya, Atukulu in Telugu, Avalakki in Kannada, Chira in Bengali and Assamese, Pohe in Marathi and Phovu in Konkani. These days healthy flattened red rice (sivappu aval) is also available in super markets.

Beaten rice is usually soaked in some water to re-hydrate it before eating, although some recipes uses it as such. As such, the beaten rice does not have any taste. It takes up the flavors added to it. There are various dishes made with this in different states of India. In Kerala and many other places, it is soaked in hot water, topped with some grated coconut and sugar and served as a snack. This is also given to sick people as it gets easily digested. Another good thing is that most dishes made with flattened rice can be prepared in less than 10-15 minutes. Since it is flattened, it requires hardly 5-10 minutes to get cooked and soak up the flavors added to it. In Maharashtra, poha upma is a popular breakfast dish which is made spicier. Sweetened flattened rice, porridge, puttu etc. are commonly made in Chattishgarh, Kerala and Taminadu. All variety rice preparations are made with flattened rice too in Tamilnadu. Other than this chivda is available in markets as a snack. Also, kheer made with aval is very tasty. It is also added to many dishes to get a spongy texture like the appam, mallige idli, set dosai etc.

It is a good item to have in your pantry to make many instant dishes. It stays good in an airtight container for up to 6 months. So here is the list of dishes that uses beaten rice.